Atlanta Braves continue to smash with youth taking center stage

The Atlanta Braves offense had an eventful sixth and seventh inning while Mike Soroka continued to show why he’s their top pitching prospect

It was a strong night for the Atlanta Braves youth as Ozzie Albies hit a grand slam, Ronald Acuña Jr. knocking in four hits, and Mike Soroka struck out six in seven innings of work for a 9-2 win over the Miami Marlins. It was Albies’ third career slam and Acuña’s four hits tied his career best.

The game technically could’ve been a shut-out by the Braves had it not been for a couple of errors (three overall) by Dansby Swanson and Josh Donaldson in the second inning.

Those errors hurt the Atlanta Braves as it eventually allowed two unearned runs from a Peter O’Brien single.

The Braves’ comeback tour started in the sixth when they successfully challenged an out call on Acuña. The Acuña and Nick Markakis hits were followed by Brian McCann, who drove in a run with a 1-out double.

With two on, Ender Inciarte was intentionally walked and Soroka struck out, but not before putting up an eight-pitch at-bat.

Up now was Albies who changed the game with one mighty swing, crushing a fastball to right off the second deck wall. This gave the Braves the 5-2 lead and they never looked back.

In fact, they added more damage the following inning. With one out, Acuña singled, Markakis walked, and Swanson singled to load the bases for McCann. He then hit an infield single to score two more.

It was a night full of youngster success but most of the veterans stepped up as well. McCann had a total of three RBI over two hits while Markakis had a hit and two walks.

A pitching change and an out later, Soroka joined in with a single to right to score Swanson. Albies then reached on an infield single — the last run of the game.

Soroka = The Canadian Destroyer And More

Mike Soroka had another impressive outing, going seven innings while striking out six and walking only two. The two runs the Marlins got were marked unearned due to the errors. This lowered Soroka’s ERA to 1.14.

The bullpen also had a good night in the form of Grant Dayton and A.J. Minter who finished out the last two innings with Minter striking out the side in the ninth.

During the seventh, Acuña seemed to have tweaked or aggravated his back or something between his spring and his run to first. He decided to stay in the game but would leave in the bottom of the inning. Charlie Culberson then took over in right.

The Atlanta Braves will look to sweep the Marlins Sunday at 1:10 pm ET. Julio Teheran will step onto the mound for them while going against Pablo Lopez.